Cyclone alerts remain for Northern Australia

WEATHER warnings remain for two tropical lows forming over Northern Australia which could turn into cyclones over the weekend.

Territorians are unlikely to feel severe effects, but the Bureau of Meteorology is still forecasting showers and storms across the Top End, particularly in East Arnhem Land.

"Residents in Nhulunbuy and surrounds will get the wildest weather, but it won't affect us in Darwin, so there's no need to worry," senior forecaster Angeline Prasad said.

From Maningrida to Cape Shield there is a strong coastal wind warning as a developing tropical low expected to move to the Gulf of Carpentaria moves towards the southeast.

In Darwin, storms will end Saturday night but showers will continue until at least Tuesday.

A cyclone “warning” has been issued for areas from Cape Keerweer to Saibai Island, including Torres Strait Islands. A cyclone “watch” remains for communities from Gilbert River Mouth to Cape Keerweer, and incland to Cape Grenville.

At about 1pm this tropical low was estimated to be 320km west of Thursday Island and 365km northwest of Weipa, moving southeast at 13kmh towards the coast.

The low is expected to develop into a tropical cyclone later today and is forecast to move in a southeast direction over the weekend as it intesifies.

“The destructive core of the tropical cyclone is expected to cross the west coast of Cape York Peninsula between Aurukun and Thursday Island during Monday morning or possibly as early as Sunday afternoon,” the BOM said.

For the other system, a cyclone “watch” for a developing tropical low approaching North Queensland has been adjusted to include communities from Cardwell to St Lawrence. The cyclone watch alert from Cairns to Cardwell has been cancelled.

The Bureau of Meteorology said this morning this tropical low was about 450km east/northeast of Cairns and 480km northeast of Townsville and moving west/southwest at 11mkh.

“The tropical low is expected to move in a southwest direction today before adopting a more southerly track on Sunday,” the BOM said.

“The tropical low should slowly intensify and may develop into a tropical cyclone before crossing the Queensland coast between Townsville and Mackay overnight Sunday or early Monday.”

EARLIER

TWO weather warnings have been issued for tropical lows approaching the Queensland coast, that could turn into cyclones over the weekend.

A cyclone “watch” has been issued for a tropical low developing off North Queensland, as well as one for a tropical low off Far North Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorologyissued the weather warning of a Tropical Cyclone Advice for North Queensland at 4.30am Saturday.

The Advice was for a “developing tropical low for coastal and island communities from Cairns to St Lawrence”.

The BOM expects the low to intensify and said it “may develop into a tropical cyclone before crossing the Queensland coast between Townsville and Mackay overnight Sunday or early Monday”.

It said the low was about 460km east of Cairns and 480km northeast of Townsville at 4am Saturday, and was moving west/southwest at 13kmh.

“The tropical low is expected to move in a southwest direction today before adopting a more southerly track on Sunday,” the BOM said.

It warned of gales and heaving rain which may lead to flash flooding.

The Advice urged people between Cairns and St Larence to consider what action to take if the cyclone threat increases.

A second cyclone “watch” warning was issued for Far North Queensland at 5.11am Saturday for a tropical low developing off the Gulf of Carpentaria side of Cape York Peninsula.

Tropical Cyclone Advice was issued for communities from Kowanyama to Cape Grenville, after the tropical low was detected at 4am to be about 300km west of Thursday Island and 365km northwest of Weipa.

The low was moving southeast at 5kmh towards the coast.

“The low may develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 to 48 hours,” the BOM warned.

Gales are predicted to develop between Aurukun and Cape Grenville Sunday morning.

“As the cyclone approaches the coast, a storm tide is expected between Weipa and the Torres Strait Islands during Sunday,” the BOM warned.

Heavy rainfall that could potentially lead to flash flooding is expected to develop Saturday night and Sunday.

The BOM warned people between Kowanyama and Cape Grenville, including the Torres Strait

Islands, to consider what action to take if the cyclone threat increases.

Forecast maps of extreme rainfall show as a visible bright red in a wide-spread deluge, with totals of 200mm to 500mm along 1300km of coastline from Cooktown to as far south as Rockhampton.

Cyclone and flood warnings have been declared and disaster officials are warning residents to be prepared for flash flooding and strong winds up to 90km/h today and tomorrow.

Weather bureau officials said Cyclone Gillian was expected to form about 10am tomorrow about 100km off Cardwell.

It would track south along the coast but was not likely to exceed a category-two event.

If the Gulf tropical low develops into a cyclone, it is likely to be named Hadi.

Packing 90km/h winds, it is expected to move towards Weipa on the western tip of Cape York.

It never rains but it ... never rains

QUEENSLAND is in the grip of its worst drought ever, with 80 per cent of the state drought-declared and only a thin coastal strip free of its impact.

The declaration means that for the second consecutive year the wet season has been a failure, and a third is possible with an El Niño event bringing drier-than-normal weather patterns this year.

Some areas that were underwater in the floods of little more than a year ago are now in drought.

AgForce general president Ian Burnett said never before had the state’s agriculture industry experienced such widespread and severe dry conditions.

“As this drought worsens and spreads, producers must, if they have not already, make tough decisions as to what is going to be best for both themselves, their businesses and their livestock at this time,” he said.

“Rain is all that will alleviate this situation but even after drought-breaking falls this drought will take up to three years to recover from.”

Much of the west and southwest has not had significant rain for two years.

While there have been longer droughts, they usually included some relief.

Crisis talks to avoid buying the farm

FARMERS could soon gain access to new loans that take into account their losses from drought or the halt to the live export trade under proposals the Abbott Government is discussing with banks.

Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos is leading a delegation of MPs and banks to meet farmers in north Queensland in the next two days to seek come up with ways to avoid farms defaulting on their loans.

Representatives from ANZ, National Australia Bank, Westpac and Rabo­bank will meet with people from AgForce, Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, Abbotsford Station and Landsborough Downs as part of the Government-brokered talks in Townsville and Charters Towers.